Is Wave good for Nigerian tax filing?

Read the compliance matrix on this page. Partial or via third party means you still file with NRS or a local payroll product.

Are the naira prices what I will be charged?

Converted from the vendor’s published USD list price at the CBN NFEM close of ₦1,329.43 per US dollar on 1 September 2026, rounded to the nearest naira. Your bank or card network may charge a different rate.

Wave

Wave is the honest free option in this set: invoices, receipts and a simple ledger at ₦0. It will not calculate NTA 2025 PAYE, it will not push NRS e-invoices, and Nigerian bank feeds are not a reason to choose it. Move off Wave the first time you hire or you cross a VAT conversation with NRS.

Last verified 2 Sept 2026 · Reviewed by Accounting Software Africa editorial, Publisher editorial desk. Tax figures are cited to the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. Assign a named ICAN reviewer in this field before treating a page as a signed professional opinion.

Product kind: Bookkeeping
Made in: Canada
Headquarters: Canada
Founded: 2010

Strengths

Not African-made
Free invoicing
Simple books
Easy to leave

What it actually is

Wave is small-business bookkeeping and invoicing, not accounting software in the statutory sense. It will not run PAYE, will not file VAT, and will not talk to NRS. Use it until the first employee or the first VAT conversation, then move.

Features

Feature	Coverage	Note
Invoicing	Core strength	Send a branded invoice without a subscription. That is the product.
Bookkeeping	Core strength	Receipts and a simple ledger. Not a Nigerian statutory chart.
Double-entry ledger	Present	Enough for a sole trader. Thin for a VAT-registered company.
Financial reports	Limited	Basic P&L. Not an audit file.
VAT	Limited	You can add 7.5% on an invoice. That is not a VAT return.
Multi-currency	Limited	Not a group treasury tool.
Mobile app	Present	Fine for photographing receipts on the road.
Payroll / PAYE	Not offered	Wave payroll is not NTA 2025.
E-invoicing	Not offered	No NRS pathway.
WHT	Not offered	No Nigerian WHT.
Inventory	Not offered	Not a stock system.
Bank feeds	Not offered	Nigerian banks are not the Wave home market.
Accountant portal	Limited	You can invite an accountant. There is no practice suite.
Spend / cards	Not offered	Payments add-ons are not a Nigerian spend platform.

Africa reach

Countries	Presence
Nigeria	Limited
Ghana	Limited
Kenya	Limited
South Africa	Limited

Pricing

Plan	Amount	Billing	Includes	As of
Wave accounting & invoicing	₦0	Monthly	Core books and invoices remain free on Wave’s public site. Payments/payroll add-ons are not Nigerian statutory products.	2 Sept 2026

Compliance

Requirement	Status	Note	Verified on
E-invoicing	Not supported	No NRS pathway.	2 Sept 2026
VAT filing	Partial	You can add 7.5% on an invoice. That is not a VAT return.	2 Sept 2026
WHT	Not supported	No Nigerian WHT.	2 Sept 2026
PAYE	Not supported	Wave payroll is not NTA 2025.	2 Sept 2026
Local COA	Partial	Simple categories, not a Nigerian statutory chart.	2 Sept 2026
Multi-currency	Partial	Limited. Not a group treasury tool.	2 Sept 2026
Bank feeds	Not supported	Nigerian banks are not the Wave home market.	2 Sept 2026

Best for

Sole traders issuing a few invoices
Side businesses that would otherwise use WhatsApp
Students learning double-entry with real receipts

Not suitable for

Any employer running PAYE
A VAT-registered company
A practice client file

Local support

Wave has no Lagos office and no NRS integration. Support is self-serve help centre. That is acceptable only while the books are a personal ledger.

Migration notes

Export CSV of customers, invoices and a trial balance. Wave is easy to leave, which is part of its value. Do not wait until a tax audit to leave.